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Drag-Racing Blamed For Fiery, Fatal Crash in Bensalem

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BENSALEM, Pa. (CBS) — One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash along Route 1 northbound near the Street Road exit in Bensalem (Bucks County), Pa., and officials say illegal drag-racing may be the cause.

Witnesses say at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday the car, a 2000 Volvo, was seen traveling at a high-rate of speed before losing control, leaving the roadway, rolling several times, then hitting a sign before catching fire.

“We saw the car flip over, burst into flames,” said witness Brian Baez. Baez said he attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue a victim trapped in the vehicle, but was unable to reach that person.

“We ran over to the car and tried to put it out, but it was like the whole gas tank was on fire,” said Baez.

The occupant pinned in the vehicle died. The driver and front passenger were thrown from the car. They were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
“It looks like this car was drag racing with another vehicle,” said Bensalem public safety director Fred Harran this morning. “We’ve got an off-duty police officer who witnessed it. And obviously we’re looking for the other vehicle that was involved, to get some information from them.”

Police say that car may have been a white Ford Crown Victoria. The highway was closed for several hours overnight as police conducted an investigation. Authorities say their preliminary investigation shows that alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.